Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-08-23
nuauONE.S ADDRESS.

platform-in reality - series OF
apologies for their broken pledges. lG has
not been the custom of the republican party
to assemble in State convention at other
times than when necessary to nominate
State ticket, o. send delegates to national
The State committee, repre-
sen;ing the republican party, have seen no
occasion Ter departure from This rule. Inns
party has NC account of any stewardship TO
reader. since for four years 1t has had no
control over the administration OF state
affairs. Meanwhile republican principles
have not changed sioce they we're formally
announced by State convention 10 1850
The principles Of the Virginia republicans
are The same IS those OF the national repub-
lican PARTY. We could not desire TO de
caiye and mslcad the voters CT this State
into the support OF cur party's candidates
for the Legislature 10 be elected 20 NoVem-
her next, by any announcement of our OWN
individual advocacy OF principles, which we
know to be in antago1ism to the heliei anu
nrjncioles of the republican parts Of the ma
ton.
Having neither done, nor omitted, any
thing in The discharge of any duty or trust
imposed upon our party which needs OK
PLANTATION, or for which we would desire to
NliUl0plIt, ll1c ISuScIo HCScSSIit@bib' Wv NV
anoke convention do not exist as To the re.
publican party OF this State.
Nevertheless, We have resolved to present
to Won this address, setting forth certsin
leading facts of political history, contradict
ing the statements Of the Roanoke platform,
aud TO ask you to pcnder them we'll before
YOU again exercise the right OF suffrage.
I've shaI! first doai with the statements OF
that platform in The CIDER in which they
are made.
First. AS 10 tie endorsement OF President
Cleveland and the declaration, which il
makes, that his administration will receive
the cordial support of the democratic party
of Virginia.
If this statement is sincere then the sue
ceediug statements demanding the immedi-
ate repeal of The internal revenue system
and the passage OF the Blair bill must he
jnsincora for the opposition of President
Cleveland TO the one and the lack of his
endorsement Of The other, OF these measures
ia known OF all men.
His formal and express approval of Sec
rotary Manning's views and recommenda-
lions upon the subject OF taxation and reve-
nue Is conclusive upon this question.
Secretary Manning not only deprecaics
the fact that there ia no longer any duty or
tax imposed upon tea and coffee, but while
urging Il reduction Of duties upon such arli-
ces of import as ase produced in cur own
country, sqnarely opposes any reduction OF
the taxes imposed upon tobacco, fruit dis
tillalious and whiskey.
President Cleveland approves these Vows
and recommendations oil Secretary Man
ming. The democratic managers OF the R0
anoke convention endorse his administra-
ton, and yet declare for repeal of the in-
ternal revenue system.
That President Cleveland's administers
ton is q great and bitter disappointment 10
many of the managers Of the democratic
porty IF Virginia, is attested by loud and
deep complaints This pretended support
OF him j. not only inconsistent with the adj
vocacy of the repeat Of the internal revenue
s,s:cIu, and The passage of the Blair EdGca
tiuua Bill. tn! X time serving and delusive.
L. remains Ia 10 sean whether the people
Of this Stat can ho duped into his support,
aad that of candidates for The Legislature of
The party en,orsing his administration, by
the Inconsistent ul!erances Of the democrat
ie managers of Virginia.
Second A. To he internal revenue sys-
ten. Tie Roanoke platform seeks to create
the impression among the people that the
democratic party t,tvors The immediate re-
peal Of that system. 1t may he that thu
democratic managers. who promulgated
that platform, sincerely wish the repeal of
the internal revenue system, from motives
of self preservation; but, when they formal
ly declare for the repeal Of the sl stem as
part of the democratic faith. it is apparent
thai they are guilty of an effort to deceive
the voters of ths Commonwealth. That
system is held by the democratic party as
hostage, to compel the overthrow of the re-
publican policy of protection to American
labor and industries.
The authors of the Roanoke platform
know full we'll thas the national democracy
opposes that repeal, and that the few dem
ocrats in accord with this declaration of the
Roanoke platform are in hopeless minor
ity Of The democratic party The national
democratic platform, upon which President
Cleveland was elected in 1881, promised no
repeal of the internal revenue system, but
pledged the party to continuance of the
Internal revenue taxes and their application
to the payment OF pensions.
The national democratic plan of reducing
tariff duties embraces continuance of these
taxes. Every message of President Glove
land has ignored any suggestion of repeal
of the internal revenue system, and to the
repeated efforts of the small minority Of
democrats who seek its repeal, the demo
cratic majority of the Forty ninth Congress-
speaking through its Committee on Ways
and speaking fox an overwhelming
majority of the democratic party-speaking
in accord with the views of President Cleve.
land, has given the following unmistakable
responses on behalf Of the democratic party.
On the 10th July, 1856, in the House of
OF the United States. MIR.
leading democrat and chairman
of the Comm ttee on Ways and Means, on
behalf of the democratic majority of the
House. submitted from his committee an ad-
verse report upon bill ito reduce the in
Iernal revenue taxes" &c. That report is
House document, 1st session of the 10th
No. 5000, and contains the follow
ing language;
attempts to remove the tobacco and
other internal taxes are usually justified by
asserting these to be war taxes, and in APP I
parent forgetfulness of the fact that so FIR rs